fore, either. May I come in here?"

"It's of no use, Rose," said Elizabeth. "You would be just as
much afraid to-morrow night. There is nothing in the world to
be afraid of."

Rose slowly took her night-cap away and Elizabeth's head went
down on her pillow. But her closing eyes opened again at the
click of the latch of the other door.

"Miss 'Lizabeth! --"

"Well, Clam? --"

"Karen's all alive, and says she ain't goin' to live no
longer."

"What! --"

"Karen."

"What's the matter?"

"Maybe she's goin', as she says she is; but I think maybe she
ain't."

"Where is she?" said Elizabeth jumping up.

"In here," said Clam. "She won't die out of the kitchen."

Elizabeth threw on her dressing-gown and hurried out; thinking
by the way that she had got into a thorn forest of
difficulties, and wishing the daylight would look through.
Karen was sitting before the fire, wrapped up in shawls, in
the rocking-chair.

"What's the matter, Karen?"

Karen's reply was to break forth into a tremulous scrap of her
old song, --

"'I'm going, -- I'm going, -- I'm going, --'"

"Stop," said Elizabeth. "Don't sing. Tell me what's the
matter."

"It's nothin' else, Miss Lizzie," said the old woman. "I'm
goin' -- I think I be."

"Why do you think so? How do you feel?"

"I don't feel no ways, somehow; -- it's a kinder givin' away. I
think I'm just goin', ma'am."

"But what _ails_ you, Karen?"

"It's time," said Karen, jerking herself backwards and
forwards in her rocking-chair. "I'm seventy years and more
old. I hain't got no more work to do. I'm goin'; and I'm
ready, praise the Lord! They're most all gone; -- and the rest
is comin' after; -- it's time old Karen was there."

"But that's no sign you mayn't live longer," said Elizabeth.
"Seventy years is nothing. How do you feel sick?"

"It's all over, Miss Lizzie," said the old woman. "Its givin'
away. I'm goin' -- I know I be. The time's come."

"I will send Anderese for a doctor -- where is there one?"

Karen shivered and put her head in her hands, before she
spoke.

"There ain't none -- I don't want none -- there was Doctor Kipp
to Mountain Spring, but he ain't no' count; and he's gone
away."

"Clam, do speak to Anderese and ask him about it, and tell him
to go directly, if there is any one he can go for. -- What can
I do for you, Karen?"

"I guess nothin', Miss Lizzie. -- If the Governor was here,
he'd pray for me; but it ain't no matter -- I've been